Acts of Peter and Andrew

ANDREW, ACTS OF PETER AND. See Acts of Peter and Andrew; APOCRYPHAL NT.

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PETER AND ANDREW, ACTS OF. A continuation of the Acts of Andrew and Matthias (q.v.), and a further development from the early Acts of Andrew. The book is extant in Greek, Slavonic, and (with Thaddaeus substituted for Andrew) in Ethiopic.

It begins with Andrew’s return from the city of the maneaters. A cloud of light carries him to the mountain where Peter and Matthias, Alexander and Rufus are sitting. Peter bids him rest from his labors, but Jesus appears in the form of a child and sends them to the city of the barbarians. As they approach, Peter tests the omens by asking an old man for bread. As he goes off to fetch it, the apostles do his sowing for him, and on his return he finds a ripe crop.

The chief men endeavor to prevent them from entering the city by placing a naked wanton at the gate, but without success. The rich Onesiphorus sets upon Andrew, but Peter intervenes, rashly quoting Matthew 19:24. Challenged to perform this sign, Peter is troubled, but is reassured by Jesus appearing in the form of a boy of twelve. Camel and needle are duly brought, the needle with a small eye at Peter’s express request; at his word, the needle’s eye opens like a gate and the camel passes through. Onesiphorus then insists on producing a needle and camel of his own, attempting to outmaneuver Peter, but Peter again succeeds. Finally Onesiphorus promises to give his goods to the poor and free his slaves if he is allowed to do a wonder like Peter. Peter is doubtful, but a voice bids him to let Onesiphorus do as he will. This time the camel goes only as far as its neck, but Onesiphorus is satisfied with Peter’s explanation that it is because he is not baptized. One thousand souls are baptized that night. Next day the harlot at the gate gives her goods to the poor, and her house for a monastery of virgins.

Bibliography

ANT, 458ff.; literature in NTAp, II, 576.